Shock absorber



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V T 71?. 17% Z 2 a W 5 a E. J. KOLODZIEJ SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Dec. 5. 1925 June 8 1926.

June 8 1926. 1,587,592

E. J. KOLODZIEJ SHOCK ABSORBER Fi led Dec. 5. 1 925 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 atented .lnne i926 EDWARD J. 'KQLODZIEJ, F BUFFALQ, NEW YQRK.

fiHUCK SORBEB.

Application filed December 5, 1925. itertat Ito. Wfitt.

This invention relates to a shock absorber or cushioning device which is adapted to be placed between two relatively moving parts such as the body or frame and the axle of an automobile, for the purpose of absorbing or cushioning theshock which is ordinarily produced by such movement and thereby contributing to the comfort of the passengers who are riding in the 'car or saving from danger the merchandise or other materials which may be carried by the same.

It is the object of this invention to provide an apparatus of this character which is more eflicient in operation, less costly in production and one requiring a minimum amount of attention for the purpose of keeping the same in an operative condition.

With this end in view this invention consists generally of a cylinder whichis adapted to be mounted on one of the relatively movable members, a rock shaft adapted to be operatively connected with the other relatively movable member, a piston moving lengthwise in the cylinder and adapted to encounter a high fluid resistance while moving in one direction and a low fluid resistance while moving in the opposite direction, a screw connection between said piston and said rock shaft, means for permitting fluid to pass comparatively free from one end of the cylinder to the other during the low compression stroke of the piston and to restrict this flow during the high compression stroke of the piston, and means for journalling the shaft on the bylinder in such manner as to reduce to a minimum the possibility of leakage through the joint between the rock shaft and the cylinder so that frequent renewal of the resistance liquid in the cylinder is rendered unnecessary.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal longitudinal section of the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 33 Fig. 4:.

Figure 4: is a vertical section taken on line 44 Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a side view of the piston and its exterior screw threaded piston rod.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the rock shaft and its interior screw threaded bushing.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken on line 77 Fig. 1. I

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several $9 views of the drawings.

The numeral 10 represents generally the casing of the shock absorber which is adapted to be attached to one of the relatively movable members of an automobile so as to be carried thereby. in the present instance this caslng 1s designed to be attached to the frame or body of an automobile by providingthe inner or rear end of this casing with laterally projecting lugs 11 adapted to be secured to the car frame by means of bolts or other suitable fastenings. This casin is provided with a horizontal cylinder 12 w ich may be provided in its bore with a suitable lining 13. At its front or outer end this cyl- 75' inder is closed by means of a head 14 which s formed integrally therewith and at its inner or rear end this cylinder is closed by a rear head 15 which is detachably connected at its margin with the rear end of W the cylinder by means of bolts 16 or other appropriate fastenings whereby this end of the cyl nder may be uncovered for the pur ose of introducing or removing the arts w ich are normally arranged within t e cylinder. 35

the same with the other relatively movable F member of the car which in the present instance IS supposed to be the axle of the car. This rocking movement is preferably transm1tted to the rock shaft by means of a vertically movable rock arm 20 the free end of N which is ada ted to be connected with the car axle whi e its inner end or hub is provided with a conical opening 21 which re-. ceives a conical shank 22 at the outer or front end of the rock shaft. and rock shaft are preferably securely interlocked with each other so as to compel the same to turn together for which purpose a pin 23 is employed which is passed transversely through corresponding openings 25 l and 26 formed respectively in the hub of the rock arm 20 and the shank of the rock ractically tight .joint between the W This rock arm 10$ shaft, as shown in Fig. 7. Disen agement of this pin from the rock arm an shaft 1s revented by means of a set screw 62 workmg lengthwise in a threaded openmgm the outer end of the shank 22 and engaging 1ts inner end with an annular groove 27 on the central part of the locking pin 23, as shown in Fig. 1.

By this means the rock arm and rock shaft are securely coupled and prevented from becoming accidentally disconnected when subjected to the vibration of the car whlle the same is rimning. v

The rock shaft is so mounted in the outer or front head of the cylinder that the same is free to turn but incapable of longitudinal motion, and a screw connection is provided between this rock shaft and the piston 17 so that upon rocking the shaft a longitudinally reciprocating motion will be 1m arted to the piston. The preferred means or effecting this connection between the rock shaft and the piston are constructed as follows:

The numeral 28 represents a piston rod which projects forwardly from the piston. This piston rod is preferably made separate from the iston for convenience in manufacture and is connected therewith by means of an external screw thread 29 arranged on the rear part of the piston rod and engaging with an internally threaded openlng 30 on the central part of the piston, as shown in Fig. 1. Th1s piston rod, therefore, in effect forms an integral part of the piston and these two members therefore practlcally form one piece and are only capable of reciprocating lengthwise in the cylinder but incapable of turning therein. The means for thus holding the piston and piston rod against turning which are shown in the drawings consist of a post 31 of non-circular form in cross section projecting forwardly from the central part of the rear head of the cylinder and arranged with its front end 1n a non-circular recess or opening 32 III the piston rod 28. In the preferred form of the post 31 the same is square in cross section and the o ening 32 in the piston rod 1s of correspon 'ng form, 50 that when these parts engage with each other, as shown in Fig. 2, rotation of the piston rod and piston relative to the o linder is possibl prevented and longitudina movement of t e same is permitted. The post 31 is preferably formed integrally with the rear piston head 15, but if desired the same may be made separate therefrom and attached thereto in any ap-- proved manner.

On its exterior the piston rod 28 is provided with a s uare screw thread 33 which is comparative y coarse and sturdy. This thread engages with an lnternal screw thread 34 of corresponding form arranged on the rock shaft 19. Instead of forming this internal thread directly on the rock shaft the latter is provided with a recess 35 extending forwardly from the inner end thereof and in this recess is arranged a bushing 36 in the bore of which the thread 34 is formed, said bushing and rock shaft being connected with each other by means of a key 37 so that they ractically form one piece and are compelle to turn together.

This organization of the rock shaft and its internal screw thread permits of readily manufacturing the same at low cost.

Various means may be employed for rotatably mounting the rock shaft' in the outer head ofthe cylinder but the construction of the bearing for this purpose and the means for resisting longitudinal movement and preventing leakage which are shown in the drawings are preferred and as there shown these means are constructed as follows:

The numeral 38 represents an annular forwardly facing shoulder formed on the inner part of the central opening formed in the front or outer head of the cylinder and adapted to receive the inward or rearward thrust of a thrust collar 39 formed circumferentially on the central part of the rock shaft. Between the inner end of the rock shaft and the rear side of its thrust collar 39 is interposed a bearing ring which consists of a longitudinal tubular body 40 interposed between the bore of the front cylinder head and the periphery of the rock shaft, and an annular flange 41 rojecting laterally from the front end of this tubular body and interposedbetween the rear side of the thrust collar 39 and the forwardly facing thrust shoulder 38, as shown in Fig. 1. A similar bearing ring is provided for the front end of the rock shaft and consists of a tubular body 42 surrounding the front part of the rock shaft and an annular flange 43 pro jecting laterally from the rear end of the body 42 and en aging with the front side of the thrust co ar 39. The two bearing rings and the thrust collar between the same are held in proper engagement with each other and in their proper osition relatively to the thrust shoulder 38 by means of a retaining ring 44 having a screw threaded connection 45 with the front end of the casing 10 and closely fitting around the periphery of the tubular body 42 of the front bearing ring and having its inner end facing the flange 43 of this bearing ring. In order, however, to prevent the retaining ring 44 from being screwed inwardly to such an extent as would actually grip the thrust collar 39 between the bearing rings, a spacing ring 46 is provided which surrounds the flange 43 of the front bearing rin and rests against a forwardly facing shouTder 47 on the casing while its front side is engaged by the rear side of the retaining ring 44. This spacing rin 46 is slightly thicker than the flange 43 o the front bearing ring so that lid near aea when the retaining rin dd is screwed inwardly as tight as possi is the spacing ring 46 which arrests the inward movement of this retaining ring will hold the latter away from the flange 43 of the front packing ring a very minute distance and thereby preventing the thrust collar 39 from being gripped so that there will be no interference with the free rotation of the rock shaft and still hold the same against any perceptible longitudinal movement.

The longitudinal movement of the piston within the cylinder is resisted by a liquid which preferably consists of oil or other fluid which will not be afiected materially by variations in temperature. It is preferable to employ for this purpose the finest grade of machine oil. lhis liquid is filled into the cylinder through a filling opening 48 formed in the top of the front end thereof which opening is normally closed by means of a screw plug 49, as shown inFig. 3. Means are provided whereby during the this is backward movement of the piston a high )ressure resistance will be encountered by highly restricting the escape of the liquid from. the rear end of the cylinder at this time, thereby enabling this apparatus to absorb or cushion heavy shocks, such as for instance, the rebound of the springs of an automobile if the. same had been compressed when the wheels drop into an opening 1n the road or strike an obstruction thereon. During the forward or outward movementhowever of the piston the resistance liquid in the front end of the cylinder is permitted to escape therefrom with great freedom so that a comparatiilely low resistance 18 otferedto the forward movement of the piston and its cushioning or shock absorbing efl'ect is therefore reduced, thereby resisting only to a moderate extent the movement of the body and axle of the car toward each other while compressing the springs. Various means may be provided for causing the resistance liquid to operate in the manner indicated but referably accomplished by means of a relief port formed in the piston and provided with a rearwardly facing valve seat 51, and a check'valve 52 movable toward and from the seat 51 and held on thepiston by means of a retaining pin 53. The post 31 is also provided on one side with a longitudinal by-pass 54: which places the rear end of the cylinder in communication with the recess 32 in the piston rod and the front end oft-he rod is rovi'ded with an opening 55 which places t e recess 32 in communication with the interior of the rock shaft bushing,

as shown in Fi 1L During the rearward motion of the piston the valve 52, is closed so that the resistance liquid in the rear end of the cylinder is practically confined there in excepting so much thereof as is permitted to escape through theby-pass 541- into the reconveniently an liquid against the same and permitsthe liqmid to flow from the front end of the cylinlid ild

der' throu h the port 50 and to the rear end of the cy'nder with comparative freedom whereby the resisting edect of the liquid in the front end of the cylinder against the forward movement of the iston at this time is materially reduced an a corresponding reduction in the shock absorbin or cushionmg sheet of the same is exerts In order to reduce to a minimum the possibility of leakage of hydraulic resisting me dium from the cylinder throu h the joint between the rock shaft and t e casing a packing device is provided preferably consisting of a packing ring 55 surrounding the front part of the rock shaft and bearing with its inner or rear side against the front bearing ring and the retaining ring id, and a gland ring 57 havin a screw connection with the casing and front side of the packing ring 56 and the front side of the retaining ringdl, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

As a whole this shock absorber is very 'eficient in operation, its construction is such that the same can be very'easily machined and the several dparts assembled easily and get out of order under the severest usage to which the same may be subjected. I claim as my invention:

1. A shock absorber for cushioning two relatively movable parts, comprising a cylinder adapted to be mounted on one of said parts and provided with a stationary rear head, a non-circular post pro'ecting forwardly from said head, a pi ton movable lengthwise in said cylinder, a piston rod projecting forwardly from said piston and having a non-circular recess which receives said post and also provided with an external screw thread, and a tubular rock shaft journaled on the front end of said cylinder and adapted to be operatively connected with the other relatively movable part and provided with an internal screw thread engaging with the external thread of said piston rod.

2. A shock absorber for cushioning two relatively movable parts, comprising a'cylinder adapted to be mounted on one of said parts and provided with a stationary rear head, a non-circular post projecting forwardly from said head, a piston movable lengthwise in said cylinder, a piston rod projecting forwardly from said piston and having a non-circularrrecess which receives said till caring against the the same is not liable to dlli post and also provided with an external screw thread, and a tubular rock shaft journaled on the front end of said cylinder and provided with an internal screw thread which engages with the internal thread of said piston rod, and a rock arm arran ed on the front end of said shaft and adapte to be connected with the other relatively movable parts.

3. A. shock absorber for cushioning two relatively movable parts, comprising a cylinder adapted to be mounted on one of,said parts, and provided with a stationary rear head, a non-circular post projecting forwardly from said head, a piston movable lengthwise in said cylinder, a piston rod projecting forwardly from said piston and having a non-circular recess which receives said post and also provided with an external screw thread and a tubular rock shaft journaled on the front end of said cylinder and adapted to be operatively connected with the other'relatively movable part and provided with an internal screw thread engaging with the external thread of said piston rod, said piston having a post provided with a rearwardly opening valve and said post provided with a longitudinal by-pass establishing communication between the front and rear ends of said cylinder.

i. A shock absorber for cushioning two relativel movable parts, com rising a cylinder adiipted to be connecte with one of said parts and having an integral front head at its front end and a rear head which is detachably connected with the rear end of said cylinder, a non-circular post projecting forwardly from said rear head, a piston movable lengthwise in said cylinder and provided with a non-circular opening which receives said post, and a rock shaft journaled in the front head of the cylinder and having a screw connection with said piston and adapted to be connected with the other relatively movable part.

5. A shock absorber for cushioning two relatively movable parts, com rising a cylinder adapted to be connecte with one of said parts and having an integral front head at its front end and a rear head which is detachably connected with the rear end of said cylinder, a piston movable lengthwise in said cylinder and held against turning, a rock shaft havin a screw connection with said piston and a apted to-be connected with the other relatively movable part, and means for journaling said rock shaft in said front head, the said means holding the rock shaft against longitudinal movements.

6. A shock absorber for cushioning two relatively movable parts, comprising a cylinder adapted to be connected with one of said parts and having an integral front head at its front end and a rear head which is detachably connected with the rear end of said nuances cylinder, a piston movable lengthwise in said cylinder and held against turning, a rock shaft having a screw connection with said piston and adapted to be connected with the other relatively movable art, and means for journaling said rock s aft in said front head, the said means holding the rock shaft against longitudinal movement comprising a forwardly facing shoulder arranged onithe front head of the cylinder around said shaft, an annular thrustcollar arranged on the periphery of said shaft and having its rear side supported on said shoulder, and a retaining ring secured to said front head opposite the front side of the collar on said shaft.

7. A shock absorber for cushioning two relativel movable parts, com rising a cylinder adiipted to be connecte with one of said parts and having an integral front head at its front end and a rear head which is detachably connected with the rear end of said cylinder, a piston movable lengthwise in said cylinder and held against turning, a rock shaft having a screw connection with said piston and adapted to be connected with the other relatively movable part, and means for journaling said rock shaft in'said front head, the said means holding the roclr shaft against longitudinal movement comprising a forwardly facing shoulder arranged on the front head of the cylinder around said shaft, an annular thrust collar arranged on the periphery of said shaft and having its rear side supported on said shoulder, a retaining ring secured to said front head 0 posite the front side of the collar on said shaft, arear bearingring having a tubular body interposed between the rear end of the shaft and the bore of said shoulder and a laterally projecting flange interposed between the' rear side of said collar and the front side of said shoulder, and a front bearin ring havin a tubular bod interposed ietween the out part of said shaft and the bore of said retaining ring and a laterall projectin flange interposed between t e front si e of said collar and the rear side of the retaining ring.

8. A shock absorber for cushioning two relativel movable parts, com rising a cylinder ad apted to be connects with one of said parts and havin an integral front head at its front end an a rear head which is detachably connected with the rear end of said c linder, a piston movable lengthwise in sai cylinder and held against turnin a rock shaft having a screw connection wit said piston and adapted to be connected with the other relatively movable art, and means for journalin said rock sha t in said front 1 head, the sat means holding the rock shaft against longitudinal movement comprising a forwardly facing shoulder arranged on the front head of the cylinder around said shaft, an annular ust collar arranged Tan ill) lltl

llli

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the periphery of said shaft and having its rear side supported on said shoulder, a retaining ring secured. to said front head opposite the frontside of the collar on said shaft, and a spacing ring interposed between saidshoulder and said retaining ring.

9. A shock absorber for cushioning two relatively movable parts, comprising a cylinder adapted to be connected with one of said parts and having an integral front head at its front end and a rear head which is detachably connected with the rear end of said cylinder, a piston'movable lengthwise in said cylinder and. held against turning, a rock shaft having a screw connection with said piston and adapted to be connected with the other relatively movable part, and means for iournaling said rock shaft in said. front his-ad, the said means holding the rock shaft against longitudinal movement con'iprising a forwardly facin shoulder arranged on the front head of the cylinder around said shaft, an annular thrust collar arranged on the periphery of said shaft and having its rear side supported on said shoulder, a retaining ring secured to said front head opposite the front side of the collar on said shaft, a packing ring SUIIOllIldlIl' the front end of said shaft and bearing against retaining ring, and a gland bearing against said packing ring and connected with the front head of said cylinder. 7

10. shock absorber for cushioning two relative-1y movable members, comprising a cylinder adapted to be connected with one of said members and having front and rear heads, a piston movable lengthwise in the cylinder but held against turning therein, a piston rod projecting forwardly from the piston and having an external screw thread,

and a tubular rock shaft journaled on the front head and adapted to be operatively piston and having an external screw thread,

a tubular rock shaft journaled on the front head and having aninternal screw thread engaging with the thread of said rod and having a conical front end, a rock arm having a conical opening which receives the conical part of said shaft and adapted to be connected with theother relatively movable member, a pin passing'through said arm and shaft, and a set screw arranged on the outer end of said said pin.

EDWARD J. KOLODZIEJ.

shaft and engaging 05 

